SINGLES GOING STEADY: "THE BLUES DON'T KNOCK" BY DON COVAY & THE JEFFERSON LEMON BLUES BAND

"The Blues Don't Knock" appears on this fantastic 1969 LP by Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band

It takes a little "something" to get me to fall in love with a blues song.  That something is a combination of two things:  a significant addition of sophistication and a significant subtraction of predictability.  For whatever reason, the blues form is a seductive crutch that too many musicians lean on—and have the audacity to call themselves "songwriters."  Some make slight adjustments to the form to keep it melodically interesting, but there is a "sameness" to the blues that I can't help but feel bored by.  Sure, I'll listen to Muddy Waters At Newport, Albert King, The Blues Project (feat. Al Kooper) and a bit of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, but that's pretty much the extent of my "blues desert island list."  

But, my recent discovery, "The Blues Don't Knock" by Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band, is an example of a blues song that has a little "something."  Written by Sidney Wyche, whose songs have been covered by everybody from Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, it's greatness should be of no surprise.  This is a real songwriter's song, as evidenced by some unexpected melodic turns in the verses and the bridge.  By far the most "goosebump-y" moment of "The Blues Don't Knock" is in the final 45 seconds.  Covay sings the blues melody an octave up and his slightly strained delivery is incredibly emotive and effective.  

Listen to this song.  I also suggest listening to the corresponding album House Of Blue Light, which is fantastic, to say the least.  Guitar enthusiasts take note—the J. Lemon Blues Band features the expert John Hammond.

"The Blues Don't Knock" by Don Covay & the Jefferson Lemon Blues Band

House Of Blue Light  by Don Covay & the Jefferson Lemon Blues Band

LESSER EVIL BY DOLDRUMS

Lesser Evil by Doldrums

Before you listen to Lesser Evil by Doldrums, I highly recommend you take a minute to sit and stare at its corresponding album artwork.  Doing so will tell you quite a bit about what cocktail you're about to swallow.

Under the abstract wash of inky, blue, food coloring-like stains and violet flourishes is a human face.  Let's say the face is equivalent to the concept of familiar and agreeable musicality.  Everything else is a bizarre, sour candy coated, electronic fabric.  Too much of electronic indie rock only gives you the "everything else."  But, sometimes you get the familiar and the agreeable musicality and the everything else together in one double shot.  This combination is quite addictive when it's done really well.  

Releaesed in February 2013, Lesser Evil is done really well.  Almost outstanding! 

If you're going to chill out, you might as well put on some good music and Lesser Evil will more than suffice.  On tracks like "Lesser Evil" and "Lost In Everyone," Doldrums make some of the finest Indie Rock I've heard all year.

Lesser Evil by Doldrums

SINGLES GOING STEADY: "I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU" AS RECORDED BY ART GARFUNKEL

"I Only Have Eyes For You" As Recorded By Art Garfunkel

It was probably no one's favorite hit song in 1975.  Those who remembered the 1934 debut of Harry Warren and Al Dubin's "I Only Have Eyes For You" were probably somewhere between the ages 55 and 85.  I'm sure they thought a rock and roll version of a standard —however "soft" it was—was sacrilegious.  Kids and teens who were busy listening to David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen certainly couldn't have thought this was hip.  And Garfunkel's contemporaries? Many thought he was a has-been since he parted ways with Paul Simon five years earlier.  And his decision to record a cover of a 40-year old standard? Come on, that move was particularluly dull and gutless.

Indeed, new versions of antique pop songs are almost always pretty safe—not to mention extra unoriginal, when they come from songwriters.  Notable exceptions include Janis Joplin's rendition of  "Summertime" and Willie Nelson's essential LP Stardust.

It's even a safe move for someone who isn't a songwriter, like Art Garfunkel.  Say what you will about his solo career, but at the very least, his albums were somewhat intriguing because they featured songs by the extraordinary talents of songwriters like Jimmy Webb, Randy Newman and, on 1975's Breakaway, Paul Simon, once again.

Still, with his angelic voice, any Art Garfunkel recording is listenable.  And the number one hit version "I Only Have Eyes For You" is one of Artie's better cuts.  You can thank the famous producer Richard Perry for the song's success.  Fender rhodes and phaser guitars shouldn't work on a love song that Billie Holliday, Frank Sinatra and The Flamingos helped make even more famous.  And yeah, it's a strange concept at first.  But, it works—and that's especially clear after repeated listening.  The lushness of those aforementioned instrumental elements and the orchestral strings almost make the standard seem psychedelic and deviously inviting.  You can hear this song being used ironically in or after a disturbing scene in a Stanley Kubrick movie.  

If you're a fan of Artie from his work with Paul Simon, but don't feel like digging through his uneven solo catalogue to find a gem, "I Only Have Eyes For You" is a great introduction.  Of course, his version of Jimmy Webb's majestic "All I Know" is the quintessential introduction, but that's for another post ;) . 

"I Only Have Eyes For You" As Recorded By Art Garfunkel

And why not include this song?